GeForce GT 230M vs Radeon HD 8250

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce GT 230M vs Radeon HD 8250 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce GT 230M vs Radeon HD 8250: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce GT 230M

2017

Why buy it

✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (1 GB vs 512 MB).
✅Draws 30W instead of 130W, a 100W reduction.
✅More future proof: Pascal (2016−2021) on 14nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon HD 8250 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌2017 hardware with 1 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 4.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $50 MSRP).

Radeon HD 8250

2012

Why buy it

✅6.9% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 4.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($50 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 512 MB vs 1 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2012 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌333.3% higher power demand at 130W vs 30W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Radeon HD 8250 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 6.9% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward GeForce GT 230M instead at 216 vs 212, so for this question the real-game FPS result matters more than the synthetic split.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce GT 230M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 1 GB vs 512 MB of VRAM, a 14nm process instead of 28nm, and a newer 2017 generation instead of 2012. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Radeon HD 8250 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, Radeon HD 8250 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce GT 230M has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GT 230M vs Radeon HD 8250 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce GT 230M

The GeForce GT 230M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 17 2017. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1228 MHz to 1468 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 216 points. Launch price was $79.

Radeon HD 8250

The Radeon HD 8250 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 5 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1000 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 130W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 212 points. Launch price was $249.

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Graphics Performance

The GeForce GT 230M scores 216 and the Radeon HD 8250 reaches 212 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GT 230M is built on Pascal while the Radeon HD 8250 uses GCN 1.0, both on 14 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 384 (GeForce GT 230M) vs 1,024 (Radeon HD 8250). Raw compute: 1.127 TFLOPS (GeForce GT 230M) vs 1.761 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 8250). Boost clocks: 1468 MHz vs 1000 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GT 230M	Radeon HD 8250
G3D Mark Score	216+2%	212
Architecture	Pascal	GCN 1.0
Process Node	14 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	384	1024+167%
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.127 TFLOPS	1.761 TFLOPS+56%
Boost Clock	1468 MHz+47%	1000 MHz
ROPs	16	32+100%
TMUs	24	64+167%
L1 Cache	144 KB	256 KB+78%
L2 Cache	512 KB	512 KB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GT 230M gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon HD 8250 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce GT 230M	Radeon HD 8250
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GT 230M has 1 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 8250 carries 512 MB. GeForce GT 230M gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the GeForce GT 230M and 128-bit on the Radeon HD 8250.

Feature	GeForce GT 230M	Radeon HD 8250
VRAM Capacity	1 GB+100%	0.5 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	Unknown
Bus Width	64-bit	128-bit+100%
L2 Cache	512 KB	512 KB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GT 230M draws 30W versus the Radeon HD 8250's 130W — a 125% difference. The GeForce GT 230M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GT 230M) vs 350W (Radeon HD 8250). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 1x 6-pin.

Feature	GeForce GT 230M	Radeon HD 8250
TDP	30W-77%	130W
Recommended PSU	350W	350W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	1x 6-pin
Length	0mm	—
Height	0mm	—
Slots	0	—
Temp (Load)	75°C	—
Perf/Watt	7.2+350%	1.6

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce GT 230M (2017 vs 2012).

Feature	GeForce GT 230M	Radeon HD 8250
MSRP	—	$50
Codename	GP108	Pitcairn
Release	May 17 2017	March 5 2012
Ranking	#641	#503

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